Thinking in the box for classes

schools were better resourced for online learning.

She said some schools had just started this week teaching public school teachers how to use online resources, but at the same time, they were being told they would not be closing.

“There are a lot of mixed messages. They say it is business as usual but that we also need to prepare to go online,” she said.

She added that teachers’ workloads had also increased, as they were expected to continue in-class teaching as well as providing work for students who were remaining home: “This is going to make the divide between wealthy and public schools even worse.”

Sydney Catholic Schools executive director Tony Farley said “the way we have approached and delivered education has changed forever”.

“The traditional approach to teaching and learning has moved on and many schools are delivering content and learning remotely and online,” he said. “No resource or technology under the sun can replace the genius and necessity of great teachers engaging with students to find their way into a life of endless learning.

“That’s one of the key reasons why there is such agitation about the possibility that schools could shut to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

FEAR of COVID-19 is keeping Cairns kids away from the classroom ahead of any decision by Education Queensland to suspend classes as parents call on the State Government to bite the bullet and close schools in favour of online learning.